'Gran Torino' reviewpick

Enjoyable proof that Clint Eastwood can still chew up anyone like beef jerky

By Matt Pais

Metromix
December 11, 2008

 
Critic's Rating:
3 1/2

'Gran Torino' review
Clint Eastwood (Credit: Warner Bros.)
Photos:
(L-R) Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, Bee Vang as Thao, Brooke Chia Thao as Vu, Chee Thao as Grandma and Ahney Her as Sue in "Gran Torino." (L-R) Director Clint Eastwood, camera operator Steve Campanelli, 1st assistant camera Bill Coe and actor Bee Vang on the set of "Gran Torino." (L-R) Christopher Carley as Father Janovich, Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, Greg Trzaskoma as the bartender, Tom Majard as Mel and Davis Gloff as Darrell in "Gran Torino." Christopher Carley as Father Janovich and Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski in "Gran Torino."
Gran Torino
Running time:
117 minutes
Rated:
R
Cast:
Clint Eastwood -
Walt Kowalski
Christopher Carley -
Father Janovich
Bee Vang -
Thao
Ahney Her -
Sue
Brian Haley -
Mitch Kowalski
See full cast
Director:
Clint Eastwood
Genre:
Drama
Official Movie Web Site:
http://www.thegrantorino.com/
Movie Trailer:
View Trailer
Overall User Rating:
4 1/2 (22 ratings)
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After the death of his wife, Korean War vet/ex-Ford employee/racist grouch Walt (Clint Eastwood, who also directed) has little to do but grumble about kids these days, people on his lawn and the various minorities who have taken over his Detroit neighborhood. (This ball-buster isn't close with his kids or grandkids.) After his teenage Hmong neighbor (Bee Vang) flubs a gang initiation by failing to steal Walt's prized '72 Ford Gran Torino, Walt gradually warms to the boy and teaches him how to be a man. It's not as sentimental as it sounds.

The buzz: Eastwood already helmed this year's spotty "Changeling," but "Torino" has him back in stable, teeth-gritting territory. (Yes, you probably will expect him to ask some punk if he feels lucky.) It's also the 78-year-old actor's first time in front of the camera since 2004's "Million Dollar Baby," and the performance is commanding, funny and rich in anger that seeps from him like toxic gas from a valve.

The verdict: Nobody growls like Clint growls, yet "Gran Torino" becomes a remarkably sweet movie considering half of it is the big man groaning and barking bigoted comments. There's not much bite to the racial conflicts or depth to the supporting characters, with kids presented mostly as shy and innocent or violent gang members. But Eastwood's presence and voice are a force to be reckoned with—imagine the added zip Eastwood's narration could add to something like "High School Musical 3"—while masking loneliness and regret that eat away at even the hardest hardass. It's an Oscar-worthy turn as a man who learns he doesn't have to totally knock down the fences he's built around himself, but it's OK to lower them a bit.

Did you know? Walt insists that men (and only men) can perform half their household chores using nothing but WD-40, vice grips and duct tape. So, guys, can you?

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